USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 2
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bride directly to the old homestead, and con- tinued in the calling to which he was reared. On August 25, 1862, inspired by patriotic motives, he enlisted, under Captain William Perkins, in company H of the Fifty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, then com- manded by Colonel H. S. Greenleaf. With his regiment he took part in many engage- ments, including those at Irish Bend, La., and at Port Hudson. The term of his enlistment having expired, Mr. Taylor received his dis- charge August 14, 1863, and at once returned home. He was much debilitated at that time, and has never fully recovered his health since. His farm is a fine property, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres of fertile land, and in excellent cultivation. The greater part of the improvements have been made by him, and are convincing testimony of the perseverance and energy that have created them.
Of his marriage with Mrs. Taylor there have been born seven children, all of whom are well educated, some having completed their school life at the seminary in South Hadley. Their record is as follows : Edwin B., residing in Swampscott, Mass .; William, now de- ceased, formerly an employee of the Adams Express Company ; Leon, living near the home farm; Jennie, a teacher in the school at Granby Centre; Homer, assisting on the farm ; Carrie L. ; and Mabel. Mr. Taylor has always had a pioneer's liking for the chase, and in for- mer years made a reputation for killing foxes. He is a stanch member of the Republican party, is prominent in local affairs, and faith- fully and acceptably served in various offices, having been Assessor, Road Supervisor, and seven years a Selectman of Granby. He be- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 183, of South Hadley Falls. In re- ligious belief both he and his wife are Con- gregationalists.
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HARLES EDWARD CLARK, a well-educated and progressive citizen of Northampton, who has a fine farm in the Seventh Ward, near Leeds, was born on the farm where he resides in 1857, son of Edward L. and Artemesia (Whitney) Clark. He represents the fourth generation of his family born in Northampton, and the third born on this farm.
His great-grandfather, Calvin Clark, who was born on Elm Street, February 21, 1770, was one of the first settlers of this part of the town, taking a tract of timber land about the year 1792, when the district was sparsely in- habited and was mostly primitive forest land. There he established a homestead, which is still in possession of the family. Deacon Enos and Deacon Luther Clark, prominent citizens in the early days of Northampton, were his brothers. On February 9, 1792, Calvin Clark was united in marriage with Lucy Parsons; and their eldest child was Justin, born June 7, 1794, the grandfather of Charles Edward Clark. The other children were as follows: Dexter, born July 15, 1795, a mason residing in Northampton, who died about 1882; Lewis and Lucy, twins, born in 1798, the former of whom died in infancy, and the latter became the wife of Arby Stacey, of Belchertown, and died in 1834; Calvin, born in 1802, who died in 1880; Fanny, born in 1804, who died at the age of sixteen; Laura, born in 1808, who died in 1879. Justin Clark, the grandfather of our subject, spent his life on the farm cleared by his father, dying May 17, 1880, in his eighty-sixth year. In 1822 he married Fanny Parsons, sister of the octogenarian, Josiah Parsons, who lives on Bridge Street, Northampton. She died in January, 1881, well advanced in her eighty-sixth year; and her husband followed her to their last home on the 19th of the next May. Two children
brightened their home: Edward L., born in October, 1823, the father of Charles Edward ; and Elijah P., born in 1827, who died in his twenty-third year, unmarried.
Edward L. Clark, like his father, spent his life on the home farm, winning a good liveli- hood from the generous soil, and finding ample food for his mind within the limits of North- ampton. He was married in October, 1852, to Artemesia Whitney, of Ohio, daughter of Josiah and Almira (Ellsworth) Whitney, who was born in 1828. Her father was a native of Connecticut, her mother of Ohio; and they were married in the latter State. They were both over eighty at the time of their death. Mrs. Clark is the fifth of seven children, five sons and two daughters, and is the oldest of the three living, Charles M. and Mary D. being the other two. Her family furnished its quota in defence of the Union, one brother, a soldier in the Thirty-seventh Illinois Regi- ment, dying of disease contracted in the army, and Charles M., who was in the One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Regiment, serving over three years and receiving a serious wound. He is now living in Ohio. F. J. Whitney, a leading farmer in Rock Island County, Illi- nois, was a prominent man in his district, serv- ing as Justice of the Peace, Postmaster, and in other official capacities. He died in 1882, at the age of sixty-six. Mrs. Clark is living at the old home with her son, very active in mind and body, though not very strong. She reared two children : Charles Edward, the subject of this sketch ; and Mary A., wife of John Phin- ney, of Haydenville.
Charles Edward Clark attended the district schools, acquiring there a fair amount of book knowledge, at the same time acquiring that knowledge of nature and natural laws that a country boy absorbs as a sponge does water. Being the only son, he became master of the
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homestead at his father's death, and for some years has been engaged in general farming, making a specialty of dairying and sending milk to the creamery. He keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows, and has a large well- equipped barn, which was built in 1882. The house in which he resides was erected by his father over forty years ago, and the boards in the dining-room floor have been in use over one hundred years, having done service in the floor of the east room in the old house of the great-grandfather.
Mr. Clark was married January 1, 1890, to Nancy Belle, daughter of Albert E. and Mary A. (Parks) Wright. The latter died in 1894, leaving besides Mrs. Clark one other daughter and a son: Sarah, wife of E. B. Gibbs, of North Blandford, Mass. ; and Lyman E., who lives in Chester on the farm with his father. Mrs. Clark is a refined and well-edu- cated lady, a graduate of Leicester Academy, and was a teacher for some time before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Clark had one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Clark is an inde- pendent voter. He served on the Board of Al- dermen in 1890. He has some advanced ideas respecting city government. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Congregational church at Will- iamsburg. They have an ideal home, roomy and well-kept, and may be regarded as repre- sentative types of Northampton's best citizens.
UMNER O. POLLEY, who is suc- cessfully engaged in and owns a prosperous tobacco store in the town of Amherst, was born in New Salem, Mass., July 12, 1825, and is a son of Amos and Jerusha (Sawyer) Polley.
Amos Polley, who originally came from Ashburnham, Mass., conducted a grist-mill for a time, and in connection therewith he also en-
gaged in the trade of a cooper, which he had followed for some time in North New Salem. He next turned his attention to getting out palm leaf for hats, at which he was employed in Mossville for about four years. Later he purchased a farm in Pelham, on which the last years of his life were calmly spent in the cul- tivation of the soil. He was liberal in relig- ious matters, and in politics a Democrat. He died in Pelham at fifty-nine years of age, while his wife lived to eighty-five years of age. They were the parents of nine children, as fol- lows : Annie, Amos, Hiram, Abbie, Jerusha, Sumner O., George, James, and Adeline.
Sumner O. Polley, who is now the only child living, spent his early years in the towns of Pelham and New Salem. He lived on the old farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to Northampton and obtained employment in a palm-leaf shop. After giv- ing three years to that business he tried his fortune in several places, but finally, in 1844, settled in Amherst. Here he carried on a res- taurant at first; then he started his present business, that of tobacco, cigars, and smokers' articles. The stand he occupies has been his for many years, during which time his prop- erty has been twice destroyed by fire, first on March 13, 1876, and next on March 13, 1888.
He was married on October 20, 1847, to Miss Marah Brown, who was born in Conway, Franklin County, Mass., on February 21, 1830, and is a daughter of Erastus Brown, of that place. She has borne her husband two children, Gorham F. and Marah P. Mr. Pol- ley is a Democrat. He is not a believer in any particular religious creed. His wife, how- ever, is a communicant of the Congregational church. Mr. Polley is one of the oldest busi- ness men of Amherst; and, as he has always lived in that vicinity, he has a large circle of
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friends and acquaintances. The family reside in a comfortable home which is Mr. Polley's property.
ON. HENRY C. COMINS, a widely known and successful farmer of North Hadley, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Leverett, Franklin County, April 1I, 1837, son of Simon F. and Nancy T. (Sweet) Comins. Mr. Comins's father was a native of Worcester County, and followed farming and lumbering throughout his life. He was engaged in the latter occupation for some time in the State of Maine, moving later to Franklin County, Massachusetts, where he resided until 1841, when he purchased a farm in Russellville, Hampshire County, upon which he passed the remainder of his life, and died in December, 1875. Simon F. Comins was prominent in the public affairs of the county, was an Assessor of the town of Hadley, and held other positions of trust. His wife, whom he married while residing in the State of Maine, was a native of Attleboro, Mass. ; and she became the mother of four children, as fol- lows: James, who is a prosperous farmer of South Hadley; Nancy, who married R. M. Montague, of North Hadley, and is now dead ; Henry C., the subject of this sketch; and Martha A., who married E. P. Hibbard, and resides in Holyoke. She died in December, 1879.
Henry C. Comins commenced his education in the public schools, and completed his stud- ies at the Hopkins Academy in Hadley and Kimball Union Academy of Meriden, N. H. He adopted agriculture as an occupation, which he followed until 1862. On August 25 of that year he enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, Fifty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, under Colonel H. S. Greenleaf and Captain William Perkins, for nine months'
service in the Civil War. He participated in the battle of Franklin and the siege of Port Hudson, and received his discharge in Green- field, Mass., on August 14, 1863. After fol- lowing agricultural work in Hampshire County for one year he moved to his present farm in North Hadley, consisting of twenty-six acres, twenty acres of which were under cultivation at the time of purchase. Among other im- provements effected by him since were addi- tions to the present residence. He has also brought the land to a high state of fertility.
In 1858 Mr. Comins was united in marriage tó Harriet Ellen Smith. She was born in North Hadley, September 12, 1837, daughter of Horace and Mary (Belden) Smith, both of whom passed their lives in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Comins had three children. Will- iam H., the eldest and only survivor, was born in 1859, and is a graduate of the State Agri- cultural College at Amherst. He is now en- gaged in agriculture in North Hadley. He married Cornelia K. Lombard, and has three children : Henry Earl, John Orin, and Leroy Duncan. The other children were Carrie H. and Lowell Smith, both of whom died in in- fancy. Mrs. Comins died March 21, 1893. She was a member of the Congregational church.
Mr. Comins is a stanch Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been active in forwarding the interests of his party, and has filled many positions of public trust with credit, both to himself and his con- stituents. He has been a member of the School Board for fifteen years, and is now its chair- man. For three years he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and in 1894 rep- resented his district in the legislature. He held the office of President of the Hampshire Agricultural Society for three years, and is Vice-President of the Hampshire, Franklin,
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and Hampden Agricultural Society, which is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the State. He is also a member of the Franklin Harvest Club, a select organization composed of the leading men of the Connecti- cut valley. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the first Com- mander of Edward M. Stanton Post, No. 147, of Amherst, Mass. Hon. Henry C. Comins has attained his present position through his own unaided efforts.
ILLIAM CLAPP POMEROY, of Northampton, pattern-maker for the Norwood Engineering Company of Florence, was born at Williamsburg, July 4, 1835. He is a son of William H. and Nancy (Pomeroy) Clapp, his father having been a native of Northampton, while his mother was a daughter of William Pomeroy, of Williams- burg. He was the eldest son and second-born of six children. All are living except one son, Sidney S., who was a volunteer in the Thirty-first Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War, and who, after serving for a period of two years, returned home and died of consumption at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Pomeroy and his brother, Frank Clark Clapp, were also volunteers, having enlisted in the Fifty-second Regiment for nine months, and saw one year of active service during the memorable struggle. Mr. Pomeroy's sisters, Ellen A., wife of Frank H. Strong, and Caro- line L., wife of Samuel A. Clark, reside at the old Pomeroy homestead. The property was first taken possession of by their great-grandfather. Their grandfather, who had six daughters, but no male heir, left it to William Pomeroy Clapp, who, on that account, by a special act of the legislature in 1849, changed his name to William Clapp Pomeroy. His grand-
father's wife before her marriage was Rachel Edwards, of Chesterfield, Mass. They were both members of the Congregational church, of which he was for many years a Deacon. He died at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife at seventy-five.
Mr. Pomeroy's parents resided near the old homestead during their entire married life. His father died there at the age of sixty-one years, and his mother at about the same age, four years later. Of his paternal ancestors, grandfather Sereno Clapp, a native of North- ampton, was a blacksmith by trade. By his marriage with Lydia Patterson, of Rhode Isl- and, he had three sons and one daughter, and died at the age of sixty-one years.
Mr. Pomeroy received his education in the common schools of Williamsburg. At the age of fifteen he engaged in farm labor both at Sunderland and Westfield for about two years. He then served an apprenticeship at Holyoke to the machinist's trade for three years. After this, in company with a friend, he started West, working his way to Ohio, thence through Michigan and Wisconsin to Oronoco, Minn. Here he worked as carpenter until 1859, when he returned to his home.
On January 1, 1861, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Susan A. Newcomb, of Leyden, daughter of Charles W. Newcomb. Of their five sons, three are still living. William Newcomb, a salesman, passed to spirit life May 29, 1887, at the age of twenty-five; and Charles S., a mechanic, on January 19, 1888, in his twenty-fourth year. Henry W. Pome- roy is a pattern-maker at Florence; Frank S. also follows the business of his father; and Edward S., who is a thorough mechanic and an able draughtsman, is in the employ of the Norwood Company.
Mr. Pomeroy has advanced in Masonry to the Commandery. He is also Past Master of
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Jerusalem Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and a Past High Priest of Northampton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He was the first Commander of William L. Baker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, for a period of four years, and served upon the staff of Commander-in-chief Will- iam Warner. The family are Spiritualists, his late son, Charles S., having had the repu- tation of being a wonderful seer among the brethren. The family occupy a very pleasant residence at 102 Crescent Street, Northamp- ton, which Mr. Pomeroy erected in 1888.
OSEPHUS CRAFTS, a venerable and well-known citizen of Northampton, until recently President of the Hamp- shire County Savings Bank, and a man of ster- ling character, was born in Deerfield, Franklin County, Mass., March 2, 1810. The progeni- tor of the Crafts family in America is said, by tradition, to have come over from England in the "Mayflower." His name is not found in Hotten's list of the Pilgrims of 1620; but he may have been a passenger in a subsequent voyage, that historic vessel, it is claimed by students of Colonial history, having brought emigrants to these shores in 1629 and 1630. Savage's Genealogical Dictionary says that Griffin Crafts came in 1630 in the fleet with Winthrop- tradition again says, in the "Arbella." (See sketch of David W. Crafts on another page of this volume. )
Chester Crafts, father of Josephus Crafts, was born in Whately, Franklin County, Mass., in 1783, and was the son of a farmer in moder- ate circumstances. He died in Deerfield on September 27, 1827, on the day on which his brother Roswell was buried, his own summons to depart coming very suddenly and unex- pectedly while his family were attending the funeral, at which he himself, though in feeble
health, had thought to be present. Like his father, he was a farmer. He married Phila Jewett, of Deerfield; and to them nine chil- dren were born, five sons and four daughters, of whom Josephus is the eldest. Four sons and one daughter are now living : David W., in Northampton; Roswell P., in Holyoke; Albert, in Ashfield; and the sister, Sylvia, widow of Alvin Field, in Northampton. Mrs. Phila J. Crafts lived to be nearly ninety years of age, dying in Northampton at the home of her son David.
Josephus Crafts when but a lad of nine years left his home to go to that of Russell Cooley, a large farmer of Deerfield. Here he lived for nine years, working hard most of the time and getting but a very mneagre schooling, so that, when he started out at eighteen to win his way in the world, his capital consisted chiefly of his health and energy. Walking to Greenfield, he let himself to Spencer Root, a hotel-keeper and stage proprietor, as hostler. He soon began to drive stage, and one year later, when the mail contract changed hands, engaged to drive for another party. He drove stage for about five years on the Ashfield road, and in the course of that time met his fate and married. Mr. Crafts next bought the stage route, which he ran for seven or eight years, when he established himself in business at Ashfield as a dealer in dry goods and West India goods, including rum, which was a staple in those days. And the marvel is that Mr. Crafts never drank a glass of rum, nor did he smoke, though his father was a veteran smoker, his one experience when a boy, from which he was deathly sick, proving sufficient. Mr. Crafts carried on this business for about six years in connection with a small farm. On leaving Ashfield, about thirty years ago, he came to Northampton. His first purchase of real estate here was the lot on which the
JOSEPHUS CRAFTS.
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Hampshire House now stands, this block hav- ing been erected by him in 1870. He also bought another lot back of it, which he sold at a handsome profit. Although people doubted his wisdom in purchasing this property, it has proved a good investment, bringing him in a yearly rent of from eighteen hundred to twenty- four hundred dollars. Since coming to North- ampton Mr. Crafts has done little business aside from making loans and settling estates, of which, as administrator, executor, trustee, or assignee, he has had charge of one hundred and twenty-one, some in Greenfield, but most of them in Northampton, and some of them reaching far into the thousands, showing the confidence in which he has always been held by his fellow-men. Mr. Crafts has been one of the organizers of several different banks, three in Holyoke, one in Conway, and one in Shelburne Falls. The Hampshire County Savings Bank was started in Northampton about thirty years ago; and about twelve years ago, when Luther Bodman, the president, died, Mr. Crafts became his successor, and filled the place most faithfully up to the summer of 1895, when he voluntarily retired.
Mr. Crafts married Roxie D., daughter of Lyman Cross, for many years landlord of a stage house on the Ashfield road. Mr. and Mrs. Crafts reared to adult life two of the seven daughters born to them and one son. Their only living child now is Harriet L., wife of Joshua H. Fraser, of Holyoke, and mother of a son and a daughter. Mrs. Fraser's sister, Frances E., wife of Henry C. Hallett, died in Northampton in the fall of 1894, at the age of forty-two, leaving four children, one daughter and three sons.
In political affiliation Mr. Crafts is a firm Democrat and has served on some of the com- mittees. Mr. and Mrs. Crafts are members of the Edwards Congregational Church. This
exemplary couple have enjoyed sixty-two years of wedded life, a rare experience ; and both are still in comfortable health. Their home is at 71 Market Street, where they settled within three years of coming to Northampton, which they have seen grow from a village of about five thousand inhabitants to its present popula- tion of some eighteen thousand. The accom- panying portrait of Mr. Josephus Crafts will be recognized and appreciated by many friends.
ENRY N. SMITH, a successful agri- culturalist of South Hadley, was born in that town, September 7, 1826, son of Nelson and Rebecca (Smith) Smith. Mr. Smith's grandparents were Josiah and Phebe (Nash) Smith, the former of whom was born in Hampshire County, December 6, 1761. He moved to Vermont, where he followed agriculture for a time, but eventually returned to Massachusetts, and died in South Hadley at the age of eighty-four. His wife, who was born in Granby, Mass., January 14, 1769, died in 1846.
Nelson Smith, Mr. Smith's father, was born in Brookfield, Vt., May 18, 1801. He came to South Hadley when a young man, and suc- cessfully engaged in agriculture until his death, which occurred in 1879. His wife be- came the mother of five children, as follows : Harriet L., who died in infancy; Henry N., the subject of this sketch; William, who re- sides with his children in South Hadley ; Jen- nie, who married J. E. Kellogg, and is now deceased; and Clara L., who married for her first husband Samuel Judd, and for her second J. E. Kellogg, and is now a widow residing in Holyoke. The mother died in 1882.
Henry N. Smith was educated in the schools of South Hadley and was reared to farm life. He resided with his parents until after his
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marriage, when he purchased his present farm, which consists of about fifty acres of well- located land, twenty of which are under culti- vation. He has improved his property as rap- idly as circumstances would permit, and now possesses a valuable farm, which he conducts with good results. He was formerly a Whig in politics, but has supported the Republican party since its formation.
On April 8, 1856, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mary D. Cook, who was born in Hadley, February 12, 1829, daughter of Win- throp and Sophia (Smith) Cook. Mrs. Smith's parents are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, namely: Mary, who married John Barstow, and resides in Hadley ; and Arthur N., who married Clara E. Mon- tague, and resides in Holyoke. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Congregational church.
ELVIN L. GRAVES, senior mem- ber of the firm of M. L. & M. W. Graves, dealers in grain, flour, feed, etc., in Northampton, was born in South Leverett, Mass., September 17, 1847. He is of English extraction, being a lineal descendant of Admiral Thomas Graves, who came from England some time during the 1630's, and settled on the peninsula of Misha- wum, now called Charlestown, in Massachu- setts. It is probable that this emigrant ancestor is the Thomas Graves recently al- luded to by B. F. DeCosta, in the New Eng- land Magasine, in stating that the Sprague brothers, going from Salem to Mishawum in 1629, were accompanied by an engineer, one Thomas Graves, who proceeded to there lay out a town.
After a few generations the descendants of the said Thomas Graves began to settle in other sections of Massachusetts. Daniel
Graves, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, removed to Franklin County with his wife, a native of Dublin, N. H., whose maiden name was Phobe Mason. He settled in the town of Leverett, buying a farm on which he worked during seed-time and harvest. He also manufactured agricultural implements when there was water enough in the stream to run his factory. When he died is not re- corded. His wife, who bore him three chil- dren, one son and two daughters, died in 1865, aged sixty-five years.
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